Chicago Bears Season Preview

The Chicago Bears finished the 2017 NFL Season 5-11, their 4th straight year finishing last in the NFC North. The past three years were all under head coach John Fox, which lead to him getting fired after the season.

Under Fox, the Bears had one of the worst offenses in the NFL. Finishing 30th in total offense in 2017, and averaging the second worst points per game in the NFL.

This was after the Bears made a plethora of moves that were done to improve the offensive output.

The Bears signed quarterback Mike Glennon to a 45 million dollar deal, but all 45 million is not guaranteed. Glennon ended up being cut after the 2017 season.

They traded up in the 2017 NFL from the third overall pick to the second pick to draft QB Mitchell Trubisky, and giving up three other draft picks in the process.

Also the signing of wide receivers Kendall Wright and Markus Wheaton tried to sew up a weak receiver core. Wright would lead the team in receptions and receiving yards, but only caught one touchdown. Wheaton on the other hand would only record three catches on the whole season for 51 yards.

Bears fans around Roosevelt shared the disappointment that most fans did last year.

Jimmy Dooley, a junior media studies major, discussed his disappointment. “Last season was definitely underwhelming, but with the past few seasons resulting in average-sub par record, I should say it should hardly be a surprise,” Dooley said.

Senior IMC major Rob Samawi shared similar feelings. “I think it was a disappointing season for us. We had no wide receivers to pass to, and it didn’t help that we started our rookie quarterback after the first couple games,” Samawi said.

To remedy the offensive woes, General Manager Ryan Pace went all in the offseason again.

The first step was hiring former Kansas City Chiefs Offensive Coordinator Matt Nagy as head coach. Nagy has worked his way to a Head Coaching job in only five years of coaching in the NFL. Also, he comes from the Andy Reid coaching tree which has produced quality coaches including Super Bowl winning coach Doug Pederson.

Nagy has already made an impact on the hopeful franchise QB Trubisky. “I really feel I was built for this offense, and it’s just dynamic, it’s creative, and it’s also balanced,” Trubisky said.

On the field, the Bears signed WR Allen Robinson. Although Robinson missed most of the 2017 season with a knee injury, Robinson racked in over 2,000 yards and 20 touchdowns in the previous two seasons.

Other signings include former Atlanta Falcons WR Taylor Gabriel and former Philadelphia Eagles TE Trey Burton.

Burton will be taking the spot of Zach Miller after Miller’s horrific injury last season that almost cost him his leg.

The offseason moves have fans optimistic about next season.

“I don’t think that we will make the playoffs, but rather this next season will be one of growth, if anything we will win about six games,” Samawi said.

“With Trubisky’s first season under his belt and new receivers, as well as a new head coach, I remain hopeful as all true Bears fans usually do,” Dooley said.